Roy Lee Johnson, born on December 31, 1938, in Centralhatchee, Georgia, was an American R&B and soul singer, songwriter, and guitarist. He began playing the guitar as a child and joined his first band, The Brassettes, around 1955. His composition "Mr. Moonlight" was recorded by Piano Red in 1962 and gained significant attention when covered by The Beatles on their 1964 album Beatles for Sale. Following this success, Johnson released several singles and collaborated with Otis Redding and Phil Walden. In 1973, he formed Roy Lee Johnson & The Villagers, releasing an album for Stax Records before disbanding due to the death of bassist Michael James. In 1998, Johnson released When a Guitar Plays the Blues. He died on June 3, 2024, at the age of 85.
